John Berry Fishing Report 5/01/2008

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 5/01/2008

Though the reservoirs on the White River system have fallen a bit, they remain precariously close to the top of flood pool. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose fell two tenths of a foot to rest at forty feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is one foot below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at fifteen feet above power pool or one foot below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell seven tenths of a foot to settle at eight and five tenths feet above power pool or one and one tenth of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White has been to run all eight generators around the clock. In addition they opened the flood gates and ran 13, 000 additional cubic feet per second (the equivalent of four additional generators). The also ran the flood gates on Beaver and Table Rock. All have now been shut down. Norfork Lake has fallen two tenths feet to rest at twenty seven feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or one foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run two generators most of the time with brief periods of no generation mostly at night. There have been a few brief periods of wading opportunities on the Norfork River at night but none on the White. On the higher water, boating conditions have been excellent. The Buffalo River and Crooked Creek are high and off colored.

Most boat ramps on the White River are now usable. When they had the flood gates open during the past week they were all flooded. Great care should be taken when launching or loading your boat during heavy generation. The use of a personal flotation device is highly recommended when boating on heavy water.

The fishing on the White has been tough. The water has been so high most anglers have avoided it all together. A few brave souls have fished the upper White with some success, particularly the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals dam. At least one enterprising angler was able to harvest several stripers on the White River. They had come through the flood gates and were stunned by their ordeal. The angler scooped them up with his boat net for a fish fry. With the flood gates turned off, conditions on the White should improve substantially.

With the water on the White extremely high, the action was centered on the Norfork River. The traffic was incredibly heavy. With the ramp at Quarry Park destroyed by recent flooding and the ramp at the confluence flooded by the additional water coming through the flood gates at Bull Shoals dam, the only place to launch boats on the Norfork was off the side of the road leading to the confluence ramp. This is a tricky place to launch and at times the spot got quite congested. Patience prevailed and I heard on no mishaps.

Despite the extremely crowded conditions, the fishing, while not hot, was steady. The key to success has been to use conventional high water tactics. Large brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot pink, cerise and fire orange have all been productive) and brightly colored egg patterns. One tactic that helped produce fish was the use of a dropper in the sections of the Norfork that were not designated Catch and Release. A small nymph can be attached to the bend of the hook of the San Juan worm by a twenty four inch tippet with a couple of simple improved clinch knots.

A good nymph to use for this technique would be the copper john. Our most reliable mayfly hatch of the year is the sulphur. They regularly hatch in May and June and the nymphs should be coming more active in the coming weeks. Use the copper wire variety in size fourteen. It is a dead on imitation of the sulphur nymphs. Other good nymphs to try would be olive scuds or black zebra nymphs in size fourteen.

Dry Run Creek as usual is fishing very well. The hot fly has been the worm brown San Juan worm in smaller sizes. Other productive patterns have been sowbugs, olive woolly buggers, egg patterns and Y2Ks. While you are there take a tour of the National Fish Hatchery. It is fascinating and educational. Be sure and remove your waders before entering the hatchery to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases.

Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home.

John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.